Catboat Summers

In the winter of 1993 our family did something impetuously reckless by purchasing BUCKRAMMER, an almost 100-year old leak- and rust-plagued, repair-hungry wooden boat. We then set about restoring the old bucket into our family yacht. What were we thinking? Catboat Summers chronicles a decade's worth of adventures in New England waters through a series of short tales, each recounting one of the Conways' many extraordinary experiences aboard their hand-crafted vessel. From the hilariously ill-fated participation of a fleet of catboats in Boston Harbor's Sail 2000 Parade to a chilling, phantasmal encounter amidst fog and darkness and even a pilgrimage to the yard where BUCKRAMMER was born, readers will be enthralled by Conway's compelling narrative and whimsical humor. First the good news: BUCKRAMMER was not in any immediate danger of sinking. Whatever had caused her to flood was no longer at work. On the downside, the electrical system was clearly shot. Sooner rather than later, I'd have to determine where the water came from in the first place. If this happened once, it most certainly could happen again. The pleasures of boating are indeed so many and varied. A useful and instructive appendix reveals the technical details of the ongoing restoration process, including the tools involved, the best sources of materials, and plans for some of the more challenging and rewarding additions (such as the binnacle, skylight, and fireplace).